Since a couple of people expressed an interest in our reaction to Golda's Balcony, here's what I posted on the thread on the main board:
We just saw Tovah in the LA run in association with the Geffen Playhouse. I would be curious as to what the house size was like in NYC, as the Wadsworth here was very large (which I'm assuming was to capitalize on the high demand for tickets in this limited run.) Ms. Feldshuh really did command the entirety of the space - but I wouldn't have minded seeing it in a smaller venue.
It is obviously a performance of enormous dedication and passion. She was completely focussed from beginning to end - which is saying something, considering how many times she's performed this. I found her to be fully in charge of the stage and her audience, even with the large theatre size. The only question I had from an acting standpoint was what decissions were made concerning the physicalization of the age presentation. I felt that difference in physicality was being used to signify time diferentiation, but the changes were muddy, and I sometimes wasn't sure if how she was presenting herself matched the scenario being presented. Vocally, she was fully on top of her game - and emotionally 'present' for every second on stage.
My biggest questions arose from the script - and especially one very large production choice. I did wish, at times, for less of a history lesson and more of a personal connection to Golda herself. There was obviously an attempt made to present how invigorated she was by all these political and social events - but I did wish for a little more of how she was living through it all. There were some stretches that seemed to devolve into too much historical re-enactment, and I found myself thinking that if that's the direction you wanted to head, then you should have done a full-cast show.
As I said, my biggest question was a production choice, and that was to do it all in one act. I REALLY felt that the evening was a bit 'forced' ('rushed', if you will.) Of course, I would need to really sit with the script to analyze how I really think about this, but my impression from one viewing was that it should have been split into two acts. I thought the material could have been fleshed out a little more (especially as regards her personal life and reaction to historical events) and what was presented should have been allowed to 'breathe' a little more. The extra material and gentler pacing would have easily accomodated an intermission, and that is something I think the audience could have used and appreciated. These were weighty and hard-hitting emotional subject matters, and the audience could have used a little time to process and re-charge for the entirety of the piece.
Other than that, I thought the direction was fluid and encompassing - even with what I found to be a rather 'take no prisoners' approach. The space was well used, and for the most part, the transitions of time and space (and the inclusion of other voices) was well handled. This was ably abetted by the design, which made wonderful use of projections (although, I could have done with-out the rather cliched 'ticking clock' - especially when it went into time-lapse presentation.)
Overall, I did wonder if the ultimate intent was for an increased awareness of what the Jewish experience has been in recent history, or what one person of greatness can achieve. Certainly, the latter is more universal, but that's not to say that the Israli story is not worth focussing on. In making the choice for a one-person presentation, it's hard not to feel that the ultimate audience reaction should be one of inspiration for their own possibilities in life, as reflected in the story of this other person's life. I can't say that didn't happen, as I DO want to find out more about Ms. Meir. However, I'm not sure if I'm motivated to further investigate the history presented - so if that was the intent, they have failed with me on that count.
Certainly a worthwhile and heart-felt project, and I personally would be very interested to see what Ms. Duke will create with the role.
Updated On: 2/14/05 at 02:31 AM
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